A Time for War?

My newfound friend rocked me back on my heels. We had been having an amiable conversation about a variety of topics – some of them potentially divisive but we sailed past them – when he said in a friendly tone, “If it came to that, I would sign up to fight in a civil war.” The comment caught me off guard, in part because I knew that we would be staring each other down from opposite sides of the battle line.

My introversion kicked into high gear. I needed to internally process what I heard before I responded. I came up with multiple ways that I could have responded in the moment if I were able to think that fast on my feet. My responses boiled down to this: “Please come to my house last.” When your weapons are locked and loaded and you are hunting down the people who are “corrupting your country,” tell your friends to kick down my door last.

Here’s the deal. When my door is laying at my feet and your gun is in my face, I will be finished. I sold my shotgun after its devastation was felt in my home. I briefly owned a 30.06; I have never owned a handgun. My two BB guns are rusty; I seldom sharpen my kitchen knives. I do have a Maasai rungu which could do some damage, but only if we’re standing next to each other. I will fight back as best I’m able, but you will win and I will die. Come to my house last so my wife and I can live as long as possible.

I wonder if he understood what he was saying to me and what I was not saying to him. I suspect not.

Rumors of War

Some of my former friends and colleagues recently posted on Facebook (yes, I am that old!) about the denomination that we both used to serve. The conflict within was significant enough that The Gospel Coalition posted an article about it. They quoted several times from my former youth pastor. He’s a good guy. When he preached at my son’s funeral, he was not yet ordained but was nevertheless called on to preach one of the hardest messages he might ever have to preach. He was up to the task.

The CRC is a denomination that is almost as well-versed in conflict as they are in Scripture. Inevitably, both sides believe their hands are firmly on the hilt of the sword of the Spirit. In their brief 167 years of existence, the CRC has had several ugly splits. A widening chasm is forming again, with the only outstanding question seeming to be, “Which side will have to leave?” My former colleague said that he wept when he thought the “conservatives” had lost. His tears may have been premature; the underdog “conservatives” seem to have pushed the “liberals” back. (I wonder what their uniforms would look like if they took up arms.)

War is Stupid

The old adage is, “War is hell.” I haven’t been to war, but I suspect it is an apt description. As a non-combatant, my adage is, “War is stupid.” Edwin Starr agrees with me. “War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” He makes a compelling argument.

War, I despise

‘Cause it means destruction of innocent lives

War means tears to thousands of mother’s eyes

When their sons go off to fight

And lose their lives

Since Cain and Abel, people have been willing to fight – and kill – in order to get their way in a disagreement or to have their voice heard. Fighting can be effective whether you are the aggressor or the defender. I would be willing to fight in defense of my family or myself. But if it comes to that, I will resent that I have been sucked into this senseless and seemingly human act.

Just War?

From the sidelines, philosophers and theologians speak of the just war theory. They try to define when death and destruction are justifiable. These are the wars that “should” be fought as opposed to the wars that “shouldn’t” be fought. Perhaps the armchair quarterbacks would think differently if they were the ones being sacked by a 6’4”, 350-pound lineman or two. Perhaps the armchair generals would be be similarly reticent to choose war if they were going to be the first to die.

My theory of a just war starts here: no war should be fought unless the leader is the first in line to potentially get arrested or killed. The U.S. military should hold ranks outside of Bahgdad until President Bush is at the front of the line; Russian forces shouldn’t take a step toward Ukraine unless Putin is leading the the way; Israeli forces should stand down while they wait for Netanyahu to stand up; the crowd shouldn’t depart the Ellipse until President Trump takes his first steps toward the Capital. The only fights that would be “justified” are the fights that the leaders are willing to die in or be arrested for. In other words, don’t call me to let my children die unless you are willing to die for the cause yourself.

That simple statement sums up the stupidity of war. One person decides that a war should be fought, at which point thousands of innocent people who had nothing to do with the policies or the priorities die. Eventually, one side will win – if you can call it that. If Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is successful, what do they gain? A resentful people living in a devastated country with destroyed infrastructure. Sure, people will lay down their arms…until the next leader speaks up to start a new war. History and war alike repeat themselves.

The Weight of War

Today, I feel the weight of war. There are tears in my  eyes. I couldn’t care less about the battle brewing in the CRC. That’s not my fight anymore. My tears reflect my concern that the wars that humanity has fought since the beginning are now creeping closer to my home. “Soldiers” are crouching at my door ready to kill me even though we could be friends. I’m sad because humans have yet to figure out how to prevent humans from destroying humanity.